Universal surveillance camera holder and adaptor

ABSTRACT

A universal adaptor that may be used to hold any of a number of different surveillance cameras for deployment in any of a number of different camera housings or enclosures. The adaptor is in the form of a bi-sectional open-ended generally rectangular assembly designed to snap together around a camera and its associated PC boards encapsulating them into a single unit. The assembly includes a plurality of internal slots for holding up to several PC boards associated with the camera, and optional frontal tabs for heating/defrost elements. The camera lens extends through a wide opening at one end of the adaptor. Ventilation, access and attachment openings are provided on the adaptor allowing access to the interior for adjusting PC board switches, running wires and attaching the unit inside a larger mounting enclosure.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/308,649 filed Jul. 27, 2001, and U.S. Design PatentApplication No. 29/145,776 filed on Jul. 27, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to mounting structures forsurveillance cameras, and more particularly to a universal surveillancecamera holder and adaptor that is designed for use with numerousdifferent cameras sizes, types, styles and configurations and that maybe deployed in numerous different camera housings and enclosures.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] The field of surveillance cameras includes a wide variety ofdifferent camera sizes, types, styles, configurations and combinations.There are cameras ranging from simple black-and-white cameras to highlycomplex color cameras. Surveillance cameras may have optical lensesranging from very small to very large, depending upon the application,and most cameras include one or more printed circuit (PC) boards tocontrol such camera functions as zoom, focus and adjustments forlighting. An example is the camera disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,964.A separate PC board is often provided for the camera power supply. It isalso common for such PC boards to have switches located thereon forestablishing default or other preset or adjustable configurations forthe camera, requiring that it be possible to easily access suchswitches. Many surveillance cameras are also equipped with heaters toprevent condensation from forming on the camera lenses, presentingunique mounting requirements. Accordingly, there are numerouspermutations and combinations of unique surveillance camera mountingrequirements presented in the field of surveillance cameras.

[0006] There are also a wide variety of mounting structures and housingsused to hold surveillance cameras when deployed in the field. Typicalhousing structures include ceiling domes or bubbles, angled ceilingmounts, flush ceiling mounts and the like. [list some] Other commonmounting structures include pole or surface mounted housings that may begenerally cylindrical, rectangular, round, oval, free form, orcombinations thereof. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,414,576 and 5,966,176 disclosehingedly closable surveillance camera housings. U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,659discloses a slidbaly detachable outer shell for a surveillance camera.Accordingly, each surveillance camera mounting structure presents uniquemounting requirements in order for a camera to be deployed therein.

[0007] It is therefore desirable to provide a universal surveillancecamera holder that is capable of acting as an adaptor for holding any ofa wide variety of different camera sizes, shapes and configurations suchthat the holder-and-camera combination may be easily deployed in any ofa wide variety of different camera housing structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides a universal adaptor that may beused to hold any of a number of different surveillance cameras fordeployment in any of a number of different camera housings orenclosures. The adaptor of the present invention is in the form of abi-sectional open-ended generally rectangular camera holding assembly.The assembly is designed to snap together around a camera and itsassociated PC boards encapsulating them into a single unit. The assemblyis provided with a plurality of internal slots for holding up to severalPC boards associated with the camera. A wide opening is provided at oneend of the adaptor through which the camera lens extends. This wideopening allows for the adaptor to accommodate a wide range of cameralens sizes and diameters. Ventilation openings are provided at theopposite end of the adaptor, and additional openings are provided in theadaptor walls. These openings allow access to the interior foradjustment of internal PC board switches and the like, and also providechannels through which connecting wires may be passed. Mounting meansare provided on the four side walls of the adaptor making it easy toattach the adaptor (with camera and electronics mounted inside) tonumerous different camera housing structures. Additional mounting tabsare provided at the open end of the enclosure to support heatingelements or other items associated with the camera lens.

[0009] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention toprovide a universal adaptor for holding any of a number of differentsurveillance cameras and their associated lenses and PC boards fordeployment in any of a number of different camera housings or mountingenclosures.

[0010] It is also an important object of the present invention toprovide an adaptor for use in holding a surveillance camera having anyof a wide variety of different lens sizes or shapes for deployment in acamera housing or enclosure.

[0011] It is also an important object of the present invention toprovide an adaptor for use in holding a surveillance camera having anumber of associated PC boards for deployment in a camera housing orenclosure.

[0012] It is also an important object of the present invention toprovide an adaptor for use in holding a surveillance camera fordeployment in a camera housing or enclosure that allows access tointerior PC boards switches.

[0013] It is also an important object of the present invention toprovide an adaptor for use in holding a surveillance camera deployed ina camera housing or enclosure that allows wires to pass through theadaptor between the camera and the enclosure.

[0014] It is also an important object of the present invention toprovide an adaptor for use in holding a surveillance camera with one ormore defrost/heating elements in the vicinity of the camera lensdeployed in a camera housing or enclosure.

[0015] It is also an important object of the present invention toprovide an adaptor for use in holding a surveillance camera fordeployment in any of a number of different camera housings orenclosures.

[0016] Additional objects of the invention will be apparent from thedetailed descriptions and the claims herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing the two halves of the enclosureassembly of the present invention, a camera having associated PC boardsand a heating unit.

[0018]FIG. 2 is another exploded view showing the two halves of theenclosure assembly of the present invention, with a larger camera havingassociated PC boards and a heating unit.

[0019]FIG. 3 is another exploded view showing the two halves of theenclosure assembly of the present invention, with an even larger camerahaving associated PC boards and a heating unit.

[0020]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the inside of one of the twohalves of the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the outside of one of the twohalves of the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the two halves of the presentinvention.

[0023]FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the two assembled halves ofthe present invention.

[0024]FIG. 8 is an opposite side perspective view of the two assembledhalves of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] Referring to the drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, andreferring particularly to FIGS. 4-8, it is seen that the enclosureassembly of the present invention includes first and second halves orshells 11 and 12 that attach together to form a single assembly oradaptor 13. The illustrations of shells 11 and 12 in the drawings hereinare identical, but it is to be appreciated that while the descriptionrefers to such identical shells, the present invention includes shellsthat are not identical, nor even mirror images of each other.

[0026] As best seen in FIG. 6, each of shells 11 & 12 includes a basepanel 15, two side panels 16 & 18 adjacent to base panel 15, and an endpanel 17. When attached together (FIG. 7), shells 11 and 12 form asingle adaptor 13 unit having a wide opening 14 at one end through whichthe camera lens 40 extends. A plurality of ventilation openings 19 areprovided on each base. panel 15 where it meets end panel 17. A pluralityof ridges 21 are provided on the inside of each base panel 15 andextending up along side panels 16 and 18 establishing slots forreceiving PC boards associated with the camera to be placed in theadaptor. The ridges 21 of shell 11 are aligned with the correspondingridges 21 of shell 12 to form elongated support slots for the PC boardsin the assembled unit 13.

[0027] Each of shells 11 & 12 may also include two legs 31, 32 whichextend out from the front corners where the base panel 15 meets each ofthe side panels 16 & 18, opposite from end panel 17. Each of legs 31 &32 includes one or more slots 34 for receiving the corner of a PC boardor other structure to be mounted near or in front of the camera lens 40(such as a support for a heating/defrost element, an infrared orultraviolet panel, a color cover for the camera lens, or any otherstructure associated with the camera lens).

[0028] Each of shells 11 & 12 also includes a means for attachment tothe corresponding shell. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, it isseen that panel 18 of shell 11 is provided with a plurality ofengagement tabs 25 (in the illustration, two such tabs 25 are shownalthough any suitable number may be used), and corresponding panel 16 ofshell 12 is provided with a corresponding plurality of slots 26 forengagement with tabs 25. Guide tabs 27 are also provided on panel 18 foralignment with slots 28 on corresponding panel 16 of shell 12. A lip atthe end of each tab 25 locks each tab 25 into its corresponding slot 26making disassembly of the attached shells 11, 12 extremely difficult. Itis to be appreciated that shells 11 and 12 need not be identical or evenmirror images of each other in order for tabs 25, slots 26 and guides 27to operate effectively.

[0029] A plurality of mounting structures such as attachment nuts oropenings 30 are provided on base panel 15 and side panel 16 of eachshell, such that at least four such structures 30 are available on theassembled enclosure 13, one on each of the four sides. The numerousstructures 30 on each of the four sides of the assembled adaptor 13 makeit easier to select and use one or more of these structures 30 forattachment of adaptor 13 to the camera housing or enclosure into whichit is to be deployed. A plurality of other openings 20 are also providedon side panels 16 & 18 through which switches or other controls 49 onthe internal PC boards may be accessed, or through which wires may bepassed. A rear opening 22 is also provided to allow access to the rearPC board and/or to allow wires to pass.

[0030] Turning to FIGS. 1-3, it is seen that a camera 40 is mounted on aPC board 41, and the edges of PC boards 41 are fitted into the slotsbetween ridges 21 inside shells 11, 12. Then shells 11 and 12 areattached together such that ridges 21 hold PC boards 41 firmly in place.Prior to or after attachment of shells 11 and 12, an L-shaped PC board45 may be attached to legs 31, 32 by inserting the corners 44 of board45 into slots 34 of legs 31 and 32. PC board 45 in FIGS. 1-3 supports aplurality of heating elements 46 which must be deployed in the nearvicinity of the lenses of camera 40 to prevent condensation. Controls 49on PC boards 41 may be accessed through rear openings 20 or through thewide camera opening 14.

[0031] It is to be understood that variations and modifications of thepresent invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof.It is also to be understood that the present invention is not to belimited by the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but only inaccordance with the appended claims when read in light of the foregoingspecification.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adaptor for holding a surveillance camerainside a housing enclosure comprising a pair of complementaryinterlocking shells for engagement around said camera, each shellincluding a base, first and second sidewalls attached to said base, anendwall attached to said base and extending between said sidewalls, atleast one locking tab on the outer edge of said first sidewall, and atleast one slot on the outer edge of said second sidewall such that theat least one tab of each of said first sidewalls engages the at leastone slot of each of said second sidewalls of the complementary shellforming a single rectangular unit around said camera.
 2. The adaptor ofclaim 1 wherein a plurality of interior ridges are provided on said baseand each of said sidewalls forming a plurality of slots for holding PCboards associated with said camera.
 3. The adaptor of claim 1 wherein afirst outwardly extending tab is provided on said base at the cornerwhere said base meets said first sidewall opposite from said endwall,and a second outwardly extending tab is provided on said base at thecorner where said base meets said second sidewall opposite from saidendwall.
 4. The adaptor of claim 3 wherein at least one mounting slot isprovided in each of said outwardly extending tabs.
 5. The adaptor ofclaim 3 wherein at least one mounting opening is provided on the base ofeach of said shells and on the first sidewall of each of said shells. 6.The adaptor of claim 5 wherein an opening is provided on each of saidendwalls for communication between the interior and exterior of saidunit.
 7. The adaptor of claim 6 wherein at least one opening is providedon the base of each of said shells for communication between theinterior and exterior of said unit.
 8. The adaptor of claim 6 wherein atleast one opening is provided on the first sidewall of each of saidshells for communication between the interior and exterior of said unit.9. The adaptor of claim 6 wherein at least one opening is provided onthe second sidewall of each of said shells for communication between theinterior and exterior of said unit.